Overview

You will learn about photography as a visual art practice, and how this can help you to become an engaging and active photographer. You will explore the work and concepts of contemporary photographic artists, which may trigger a new interest in what you photograph. In addition to this, you will also learn some of the practical skills required to further explore photography in exciting and creative ways. Finally, we look at the idea of a “digital darkroom” and explore ways that you can further your interest in photography through post-production knowledge and techniques.

What will I learn?

How to understand exposure and digital capture

The “language” of creative expression and how this can improve your own photography

Identify pixels and levels and how they construct a photographic image

How to use key features on your digital camera

What is RAW, and the reasons why you should use it

The key contemporary photographic narratives, and ways in which they can help you think about your own photography

How a lens draws the image, and how this can help you make more effective compositions

How aperture and shutter speed works

How to understand some of the tools and functions of image editing software

How to navigate some of the hardware choices available to contemporary photographers

Ways to consider what kind of photographer you might be, and ways this can help you to determine subject matter

Where could this lead me?

If you're wondering what your future could look like in this area, here are some potential careers you could head towards.

Reviews
for Open2Study's The Art of Photography

4.0Based on
24 reviews

Keithcompleted this course, spending 2 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be medium.

I found this course to be more on the ethereal spectrum. Most of the topics were geared towards using software to enhance a photo rather than placement and what to do with your camera. I am still looking for that course that delves into more basic instruction like using black and white versus color. Maybe a more in-depth look at the different types of lenses (fixed vs variable, or 72mm vs 52mm). What is a polarizing lens? The instructor did cover some hardware in the very beginning and then during the video on using a flash, but it was not enough. He mentioned a number of other artistic photographers which was interesting. At times it was difficult to watch the videos because the instructor expresses with his hands so much of the time. This was very prevalent when he interviewed a guest artist. At first the guest sat still but as the interview went on he too started expressing with his hands more.

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Patatecompleted this course, spending 3 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be easy.

This course helped me learn the correct terms and acquire more knowledge on how to properly use my digital camera. I also know more on how to properly edit my pictures and I've learned about various important photographers and photography genres.

After completing this course, I feel more critic of my pictures and confident to try and exploit what I've learned and to push it further.

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Jonathancompleted this course, spending 11 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be hard.

I found this course to be informative and helpful. The instructor was very knowledgeable. However I found the quizzes to be informative, but at the same time the assessments were somewhat biased and will not declare you "finished" unless you got 100% on everything.

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Danielecompleted this course, spending 2 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be easy.

The course is clear and for each module (four modules) you have some reference information: links and books to study in deep the subject. I think to be an intermediate photographer but Dr. Hulbert always gives useful information. I discovered some contemporary tendencies I could not imagine.

Apostoloscompleted this course, spending 2 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be easy.

Nice, short, course on the topic. Follows the open2study format which at times seems constraining. Discussions are quite dependent on who else is in the course. I liked the photo camera simulation. Nice touch!